Check it out, an open source AIM sniffer. You can run it in a college dorm, and read the conversations of everyone in your building. Man, would that have been a fun toy a few years ago.

AIM Sniff

Also, this this is pretty fucking dope:

Smartbar XP

You can add a smart sidebar to Windows XP, with news feeds, Ebay, virtual desktops, news and stocks, weather conditions, themes and translucency... it's really cool, and totally customizable.